Water saver for flush tank toilets



Nov. 17, 1964 C. J. MOULTON ETAL WATER SAVER FOR FLUSH TANK TOILETSFiled 001:. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheetv l INVENTOR C; A yrolv J. MOUL ro/vMa WM 1'. JoH/vsTo/v Nov. 17, 1964 c. J. MOULTON ETAL 3,155,930

WATER SAVER FOR FLUSH TANK TQILETS Filed Oct. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2k INVENTOR CzArro/v J Mom ro/v MEL w/v- Z JoH/vsTa/v United StatesPatent WATER SAVER FUR FLUSH TANK TOILETS Qla ton .l. Monitors, Rte. fl,Stillwater, Minn, and Melvin ll. .iohnston, 1.24- N. Lexington Ave, t.Paul, Minn. Filed Get. 28, B63, Sci". No. 319,431 in Qlaims. (Cl. 4-67)This invention relates to an improvement in Water saver for flush tanktoilets and deals particularly with an apparatus capable of providingeither a partial flush or a full flush of the toilet.

While the water is a commodity which is usually furnished at low cost,it is also a commodity which, in some areas at least, is becoming moredifiicult to obtain. The flushing of a conventional toilet requires theuse of several gallons of water. Gften this amount of water is not atall necessary in order to properly flush the toilet. Accordingly, it isthe purpose of the present invention to provide a means of flushing thetoilet with only a portion of the full tank where only this amount ofwater is necessary to accomplish the desired result.

it is recognized that previous devices have been designed to produce asimilar result. However, most of these previous devices do not have thepositive action which is present with the device illustrated in thepresent invention. If a full flush is desired, the tank is flushed inthe conventional manner. However, it but a partial flush is desired, afloat control pressure plate is provided which functions upon the toiletoutlet valve when the level of water in the tank drops to apredetermined level. This pressure plate causes the tank outlet valve toclose at a much earlier time than is normal, thereby retaining apredetermined proportion of the water within the tank.

A feature of the present device resides in the fact that the pressureplate acts directly against the tank outlet valve, the weight of thepressure plate causing the premature closing of the valve. When the tankis to be fully flushed, it is only necessary to latch the pressure platefrom operating, permitting the tank to flush in the normal manner.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of anovel means of operating the latch which controls the operation of thepressure plate. The latch is controlled by a lever arm which is pivotalon a generally horizontal axis and which supports a float. The lever armextends downwardly from the pivot and the float is swingable through adead center position in which the float is directly below the pivot.When the float is in one side of the pivot axis, the latch is held inengaged position. In this position, the latch supports the pressureplate in inoperative position. When the lever arm is swung past deadcenter position to its other extreme position, it engages the latch in amanner to disengage the same. In either of its extreme positions, thelever arm is normally held from movement by the buoyancy of the float.Means is provided for swinging the float from one extreme position inwhich the latch is engaged to its other extreme position in which thelatch is disengaged.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theapparatus is particularly designed for use in conjunction with a valvewhich is of resilient nature and which swings from open to closeposition by the resiliency of the valve body. The pressure plate is supported above the valve and acts to hold the valve in a slightly inclinedposition. This does not materially affeet the operation of the vmveduring a full flush. However, the weight of the pressure plate acts toswing the valve downwardly more quickly than would otherwise be the casein the event the pressure plate is not held in inoperative position.

3,156,930 Patented Nov. 17,1964

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofan apparatus of the type described which is adjustable to fit toilets ofvarious sizes and shapes. In the arrangement illustrated, the apparatuscomprises an attachment which will be slidably supported upon thestandard overflow pipe of a flush toilet which also usually supports theoutlet valve of the tank. Means is provided for actuating the deviceeither in conjunction with the conventional handle which acts to unseatthe discharge valve so that the tank may flush or it may be controlledby a separate attachment if preferred.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the fol owing specification andclaims.

In the drawings, forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a toilet flush tankshowing the general arrangement of parts therein.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a detail portion of the operatingapparatus.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the operating apparatus in position uponthe overflow pipe of the toilet.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the toilet operating handlewhich is being operated in a direction to provide a conventional fullflush of the tank.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing the toilet operatinghandle being operated in a manner to provide a partial flush of thetank.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the toilet handle assembly.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view through the tank showing the operatingmechanism in one extreme position.

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 7 showing the opelrating mechanismfor producing a partial flush of the tan c.

The toilet tank is indicated in general by the letter A and is ofgenerally conventional form. The outlet pipe which is connected to thebowl of the toilet extends through the bottom of the tank and isindicated by the numeral ll) being held in place by a nut 11. A valvechamber 12 is provided within the tank A and is provided with an openupper end. The valve chamber 12 normally includes a laterally extendingmanifold 13 which communicates with the lower end of a hollow overflowpipe 14. The arrangement is such that should the tank A receive anexcess of water so that the level raises above the top of the outletoverflow pipe 14, the water will flow downwardly through the overflowpipe and through the manifold 13 and the outlet pipe It). In view of thefact that the inlet valves and the floats which control the operation ofthe inlet valves are well known in the art and have no connection withthe present invention, the inlet valve and the water level controllingfloat have been omitted from the drawings in order tobetter illustratethe mechanism.

The valve chamber 12 includes an open upper end 16 which is preferablytapered to act as a valve seat. A rounded valve 17 is designed to fitinto the valve opening 16 to act as a closure. A valve 17 is preferablyformed of molded rubber or similar material and includes a flatsupporting portion 19 which includes a circular opening 26 designed tofit snugly about the lower end of the overflow pipe 14 or the upperportion of the socketed part which supports the overflow pipe 14. Aflexible member such as a chain 21 is secured to the outer end of thevalve support 19 and is adjustably connected to an arm 22 forming a partof the operating apparatus.

As indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, an angular arm 23 extendsthrough the wall 24 of the tank A and is pivotally supported by anexternally threaded bushing 25 extending through the tank wall and heldin place by suitable clamping nuts such as 26. A handle 27 is providedon the outer end of the angular shaft 23 by means of which the shaft maybe rotated through a predetermined arc. The angularly turned end 29 ofthe arm or shaft 23extends generally parallel to the tank wall 24 andincludes laterally s aced arms 3% forming a bifurcated shaft end. Theend of the operating arm 22 most remote from the end connected to thechain 21 is pivotally connected as indicated at 31 to the bifurcatedshaft end. The pivotal connection 31 is usually substantially horizontaland normal to the plane of the tank wall 24.

A bracket 32 is secured to the inner surface of the tank wall 24 by theclamping nuts 26 and includes an inwardly offset extremity 33 on whichis mounted stop pin 34. As is illustrated in FIGURE of the drawings, thearm 22 is provided at its pivoted end with a bracket arm 35 having anangular end 36 which is designed to engage against an angularly turnedend 29 of the angular shaft 23 as is indicated in FIGURE 4 of thedrawings. When in its normal position, the operating knob or lever 27 isin a generally horizontal position as indicated in FIGURE 1 of thedrawings. However, when the handle or knob 7 is turned in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG- URE 4, the angularity between the shaft andthe arm 22 remains the same, and the movement of the handle lever orknob acts to raise the end 37 of the lever 22 to which the chain 21 isattached. Movement of the handle lever 27 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 5 lowers the pivot point 31 until the arm22 engages the stop pin 34. Further pivotal movement of the operatinghandle causes the arm 22 to change angularity with respect to the shaft23, causing the end 37 of the arm which is connected to the chain 21 tomove upwardly. In other words, the operating handle illustrated isdouble acting so that pivotal movement of the handle in either directioncauses the raising of the free end 37 of the arm 22, this movementacting through the chainll to raise the valve 17 away from its seat inthe valve chamber 12..

The short flush attachment will now be described. In the formillustrated, the attachment comprises an elongated flat strip 40 ofmaterial not affected by its immersion in water. The strip 49 is held inplace upon the overflow pipe 14 by a pair of vertically spaced springclamps 41 which encircle the major portion of the circumference of theoverflow pipe. A curved pressure plate 42 is pivotally supported by apair of parallel cars 43 extending from opposite side of the strip 4%).The pressure plate 42 is located so as to exert a downward force uponthe upper surface :of the valve support 19 when the pressure plate isnot held in an elevated position. The pressure plate 42 is provided withan upwardly extending latching loop 44 for a purpose which will bedescribed.

The latch assembly which is illustrated in general by the numeral 45 isbest illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings. A channel 46 havingparallel vertically extending channels sides 47 is secured in anysuitable manner upon the strip 40. A pivot shaft 49 is pivotallysupported by the channel sides 47 and acts to support a generally wedgeshaped latch 59 having a notch 51 into which the latching loop 44 on thepressure plate 42 may engage. The pivot shaft 49 is bent at generallyright angles at 52 to provide a counter-balancing arm 53 having anoffset loop end 54. The counter-balancing arm 53 normally holds thelatch 56 in loop engaging position. The upward swinging of the latchmember 59 is limited by a shoulder 55 on the latch which'engages thesurface of the strip 40 when the latch is in extreme position. The latchis free to pivot downwardly to permit the engagement of the loop 44therewith. The loop 44 is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.The

downward pivoting of the latch 50 is limited by a second shoulder 56 ofthe rear edge of the latch.

The latch mechanism also includes a second pivot shaft areasan 57 whichextends through the channel sides 47 and includes an angularly bent end59 which is designed to engage against the strip 4t) to limit thepivotal movement of the shaft 57 in one direction. The other end of theshaft 57 is bent in a downward direction as indicated at 6!), the shaftend 6% including an operating arm 61 having a looped end 62, and asecond arm portion including a portion 63 which extends generallyparallel to the shaft 57 and a downturned extremity 64 which supports afloat 65. As indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the float 65 isnormally forwardly of the axis of the shaft 57 and the shaft is normallyheld' in this position by the buoyancy of the float 65. However, aflexible cord or chain as is connected to the loop 62 by means of whichthe arm end 64 may be swung past vertical position where the buoyancy ofthe float will swing the float indicated in dotted outline in FIG- URE 3of the drawings. parts properly spaced, a spacing sleeve 6'7 encirclesthe shaft 57 outwardly of one of the channel sides 47.

An arm 69 is secured to the angularly turned end 29 of the handle shaft23 by any suitable means and projects in a generally downward directiontherefrom as indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Adjustable attachingmeans '76 is provided on the lower end of the arm d9 to which theflexible cord as is connected. A float '71 is adjustably connected tothe upper surface of the pressure plate 42 as indicated at 72 by a chainor cord 73. A flexible cord or chain. 74 connects the float 71 to theupper end of the strip 4%) as indicated at 75.

The operation of the apparatus may now be described. Assuming the tankhas been flushed, the water level may be indicated in FIGURE 1 at 76,below'the mechanism. FIGURE 1 is not strictly a true view as it showsthe mechanism in position for a partial flush, but in this particularposition, all of the parts may be more readily illustrated. As the waterlevel raises, the float 71 moves upwardly swinging the pressure plate 42upwardly until the latch 44 engages in the notch 51 of the latch 50. Theapparatus is thus reset automatically for the next operation. The float65 normally assumes its forward position by gravity when the water levelfalls below the float. Thus as the level :of the water increases, thefloat 65 is urged into the forward position illustrated in full lines inFIGURE 3 by the buoyancy of the float.

When it is desired to completely flush the tank, the operating handle 27is turned in the direction of the arrow 77 in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.This action causes the valve 17 to be raised from its seat in the usualmanner but the latch 56 remains engaged with the latch loop 44 on thepressure plate 42 and as a result, the latch mechanism remains in theposition illustrated in FIG- URE 7 of the drawings until the tank isflushed. As the tank refills, the latch mechanism still remains engaged.

If it is desired to only partially flush the tank, the handle 27 isturned in the direction of the arrow 79 in FIGURE 5 of the drawings.When turned in this direction, tension is applied to the connecting cord66 swinging the float supporting shaft 57 in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIGURES 2, 7, and 8 of the ,drawings. As this occurs, thebuoyancy of the float 65 causes the 'arm 60, 61 to engage the offsetportion 80 of the counterweight arm 53 disengaging the latch 50 from thelatch loop 44 and permitting the pressure plate 42 to swing downwardlyas soon as the water level lowers the float 71 to the extent necessaryto permit the downward swinging of this pressure plate. The downwardswinging of the pressure plate acts against the valve support 19 to urgethe valve 17 downwardly toward its seat long before it would normally doso. As a result, the valve closes while the tank is only partiallyflushed.

It should be understood that the construction which has been illustratedin the drawings are shown for the purpose of illustration other than asthe manufactured product. For example, the latch mechanism is shown Inorder to hold the various formed of bent wire rod which could not inactual practice be readily detached for replacement. Furthermore, theoperation of the apparatus has been shown and described as beingapplicable to toilet tanks of the type which may be flushed by turningthe operating handle in either direction. It should be understood thatother means may be provided for applying tension to the flexibleconnector 6'6 to unlatch the latch mechanism when a short flush isdesired.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of constructionand operation of this improvement in Water Saver have been described,and while an en deavor has been made to set forth the best embodimentthereof, it should be understood that changes may be made within thescope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A water saving device for use in conjunction with the flushingmechanism of a flush tank having a discharge opening at its lower end, avalve for controlling said discharge opening, a manually operable armpivotally supported in said tank and means connecting said arm to saidvalve to lift said valve upon pivotal movement of said arm, said deviceincluding:

a pressure plate,

means movably supporting said plate above said valve for engagement withsaid valve,

a latch normally supporting said pressure plate out of engagement withsaid valve, and

manually operable means for releasing said latch to cause said pressureplate to exert a downward force on said valve.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including float means connected to saidpressure plate for normally holding said pressure plate from exertingpressure on said valve until the water level in said tank drops apredetermined distance.

3. A water saving device for use in conjunction with the flushingmechanism of a flush tank having a discharge opening at its lower end, avalve for controlling said discharge opening, a manually operable armpivotally supported in said tank and means connecting said arm to saidvalve to lift said valve upon pivotal movement of said arm, said deviceincluding:

a pressure plate,

means pivotally supporting said pressure plate for movement toward andaway from said valve,

a latch engageable with said pressure plate to hold the same fromexerting a downward force upon said valve, and

manually operable means for releasing said latch to cause said pressureplate to exert a downward force upon said valve.

4. The structure of claim 3 and including a float connected to saidpressure plate to hold said plate from exerting a downward force uponsaid valve until the water level drops a predetermined distance.

5. The structure of claim 3 and in which said manually operablereleasing means includes holding said latch released until the waterlevel in the tank drops a predetermined distance.

6. The structure of claim 3 and in which said manually operablereleasing means includes an arm swingably supported adjoining said latchand including a float swingable to opposite sides of a dead centerposition,

said float urging said arm toward either of two extreme positions onopposite sides of dead center position,

said arm, in one extreme position, holding said latch disengaged.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which said manually operablereleasing means includes means for swinging said arm from the other saidextreme position to said one extreme position.

8. A water saving device for use in conjunction with the flushingmechanism of a flush tank having a discharge opening at its lower end, avalve for controlling said discharge opening, a manually operable armpivotally supported in said tank and means connecting said arm to saidvalve to lift said valve upon pivotal movement of said arm, said deviceincluding:

a pressure plate,

means pivotally supporting said pressure plate for movement toward andaway from said valve,

a latch engageable with said pressure plate to hold the same fromexerting a downward force upon said valve, and

manually operable means for releasing said latch to cause said pressureplate to exert a downward force upon said valve,

a float valve connected to said pressure plate and capable of returningsaid pressure plate to latched position upon a rise in water levelwithin said tank.

9. The structure of claim 8 and in which said latch is normally biasedtoward latched position.

10. The structure of claim 9 and in which said manually operablereleasing means includes an arm swingably supported adjacent to saidlatch and including a float swingable to opposite sides of a dead centerposition,

saidfloat urging said arm toward either of two extreme positions onopposite sides of said dead center position, said arm, in one saidextreme position, engaging said latch and holding the same disengaged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,918,597 Griffiths July 18, 1933 2,059,749 Rosewood Nov. 3, 19362,290,679 Eoles July 21, 1942 2,526,294 Stegem'an Oct. 17, 19502,645,780 Becker July 21, 1953 2,817,849 Hewitt Dec. 21, 1957 2,819,471Ezzell Ian. 14, 1958

1. A WATER SAVING DEVICE FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FLUSHINGMECHANISM OF A FLUSH TANK HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AT ITS LOWER END, AVALVE FOR CONTROLLING SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, A MANUALLY OPERABLE ARMPIVOTALLY SUPPORTED IN SAID TANK AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID ARM TO SAIDVALVE TO LIFT SAID VALVE UPON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM, SAID DEVICEINCLUDING: A PRESSURE PLATE, MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTING SAID PLATE ABOVESAID VALUE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE, A LATCH NORMALLY SUPPORTINGSAID PRESSURE PLATE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE, AND MANUALLYOPERABLE MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH TO CAUSE SAID PRESSURE TO EXERTA DOWNWARD FORCE ON SAID VALVE.